N2 Clontibret to Northern Ireland border scheme
N2 Clontibret to Northern Ireland border scheme
27km long scheme
Following successful competitive tendering Grontmij was appointed by Monaghan County Council to undertake phases one to four of the project management guidelines. This essentially takes a scheme from inception through route selection, oral hearing and onto the publication of the compulsory purchases orders.
The scheme is approximately 27km long commencing at Clontibret and finishing at the Border of Northern Ireland in the vicinity of Aughnacloy where it will tie into the A5 western transport scheme being developed by Roads Service Northern Ireland.
Improving safety, efficiency and reliability
The existing road is a single carriageway bypassing Monaghan town via several roundabouts then passes through a series of smaller communities in a predominately rural setting. Given the substandard nature of sections of the route and the high percentage of HGVs (17%), there have been numerous incidents therefore a new high quality route will provide a safer, more efficient and reliable route. It will also provide improved links between Northern Ireland, Donegal and Dublin.
Grontmij started work on the scheme in December 2008 and is currently working on phase two, constraints. This essentially is a physical and desk study stage that gathers information on items which may influence the selection of the route in the later phases. These constraints include archaeology, environmental, ecology, population centres & properties, areas of local and national interest and protected sites. As part of this data collection, Grontmij undertook three days of public consultations allowing the public to understand what stage the scheme is at and provide any feedback they feel is pertinent to the progression of the scheme.
Next steps
The anticipated completion of this phase is October 2009 and provides a detailed report outlining the key constraints that need to be considered in the development of the route options. The progression onto phase three, route selection, is eagerly awaited and would cumulate in the establishment of a preferred route.